DIE Mercurii, 10 die Februarii

PRAYERS, by Mr Ash

Domini præsentes fuerunt

Paper from the Admiralty Committee, about the Summer Fleet

The Earl of Warwicke reported a Paper from the Committee of the Admiralty, which was read, as followeth

"Die Martis, 9 Febr 1646

"At the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports

Whereas, in Pursuance of an Order of the House of Commons, dated the 4th of this Instant February, this Committee did the same Day refer it to the Com missioners of the Navy, to present unto them Thirteen Merchant Ships, bearing upon the whole One Thousand and Five Men, towards the compleating of the next Summer's Fleet, and whereas the Commissioners have this Day certified the Ships following to be very fit to be employed in the Parliament's Service, as Part of the Summer's Fleet, praying that, if they shall be approved of, they may have speedy Order to con tract with Owners, that they may be in convenient Time fitted to go out with the rest of the Fleet, videlicet,

"Ordered, That the same be presented to both Houses of Parliament, that they may be approved of, if they shall so think fit"

Ordered, That this House approves of this List, and that it be sent to the House of Commons, for their Concurrence

Answer from the H C

Sir Edward Leech and Mr Page return with this Answer from the House of Commons

That they agree to the Judges and Serjeants to go Circuits, as it was sent down from this House

(Here enter it)

Message to the H C with the Paper about the Summer Fleet, to remind them of Two Ordinances and with One for Concurrence

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edw Leech and Mr Page

To deliver to them the List of the Merchants Ships, and desire their Concurrence for Approbation

2 To put them in Mind of the Ordinance concern ing Doctor Gibbons and Captain Wm Gregory

3 To put them in Mind of the Ordinance concerning the Library at Lambeth to be given to the University of Cambridge

4 To desire Concurrence in the Ordinance for Edw Goodwin to be Bailiff of Dover, &c

Preacher at the Fast

Ordered, That Mr Rawlinson shall preach before the Lords, in the Abbey Church at Westm on the Day of Humiliation, the 10th March, in the Place of Mr Vynes

Ordinance concerning the Seal of South Wales

An Ordinance was brought in, and read, concerning the Seal of South Wales, and it is committed to these Lords following, to consider of it, and report the same to this House

Any Three, to meet when they please, and to adjourn themselves from Time to Time

Rutter and Fincham

Ordered, That John Rutter shall have Liberty to take his Course at Law against Fincham, any Order of this House notwithstanding

Sharpless to be instituted to Acton

Ordered, That Doctor Aylett shall give Institution to Rich Sharples, to the Parsonage and Rectory of Aicton in Cumb presented thereunto by the Commissioners of the Great Seal This with a salvo Jure cujuscunque, and the Covenant to be taken

Vaughan to be Sheriff of Brecon,

"Ordered, That the Lords and Commons do no minate and appoint Roger Vaughan Esquire, de Tresplip, to be Sheriff of the County of Brecon"

Weaver of Radnor,

"Ordered, That Thomas Weaver is nominated by the Lords and Commons to be Sheriff of the County of Radnor"

Wyld of Herts,

"Ordered, That Alexander Wylde Esquire be no minated to be Sheriff of the County of Hert"

Lloyd of Pemb,

"Ordered, That John Lloyd Esquire is nominated and appointed to be Sheriff of the County of Pembrooke And that the Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass respective Patents or Commissions to the aforesaid Persons, to be Sheriffs of the foresaid respective Counties, in usual Form, under the Great Seal, accordingly"

and Tolson of Cumb

"Ordered That Henry Tolson Esquire shall be Sheriff, in the Place of Wm Orfeur, for the County of Cumb"

Petition from the City

The House took the City Representation into further Consideration

Ordinance to prevent Heresies, &c

Ordered, That these Lords following do consider of an Ordinance, and present the same to the House, for the punishing of Heretics and Schismatics, and to pre vent all Heresies and Schisms for the future

Any Five, to meet on Friday next, in the Afternoon, and to adjourn themselves from Time to Time

Preacher at Som'set House

Ordered, That the Keeper of Somertsett House shall not permit any Person or Persons to preach in that House or Chapel, but by Order of the Lords and Com mons of the Committee for the Revenue

Ordinance to dissolve Committees

Ordered, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, concerning the Ordinance formerly sent down to them, concerning putting down the Committees in the Counties

Serjeants at Law to be called

Ordered, That it is referred to the Committee that are to nominate Persons to be new Judges, to consider of Persons fit to be made Serjeants at Law

Message to the H. C. for a Conference on the Ordinance for dissolving County Committees;

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Lecch and Mr Page

To desire a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Ordinance formerly sent down to them, concerning the putting down of Committees in the several Counties

and with the Ordinance to disabling Clerks of the Privy Seal

2 To deliver to them the Ordinance for disabling Mr Castle, Wm Watkins, and Tho Watkins, from being Clerks of the Privy Seal, and desire their Concurrence therein

Ordinance to re-admit the Earls of Bedford, Holland, and Clare, to sit in the House

An Ordinance was presented to this House, for readmitting the Earl of Bedford, Earl of Holland, and Earl of Clare, to fit and vote in this House

And the Question being put, "Whether this Or dinance tendered shall be now read?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative

The said Ordinance was then read the First Time

The Question being put, "Whether to have this Ordinance to be read the Second Time?"

It was Resolved in the Negative

Message from the H C with Ordinances

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Alexander Rigby Esquire,

To desire Concurrence in divers Particulars

1 An Ordinance for Five Hundred Pounds to be paid, out of Gouldsmithes Hall, to some of Colonel Massey's Soldiers (Here enter it)

Read, and Agreed to

2 An Ordinance for taking off the Sequestration of Henry Bishop

Read Twice, and committed to the Consideration of these Lords following, to examine the whole Business, and to report to the House

Vice Chancellor of Cambridge and the Mayor about Precedency

Any Three, to meet when they please, and to adjourn themselves from Time to Time

Ordered, That the Cause between the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and the Mayor of the Town of Cambridge shall be heard the First Day of the next Term, touching the Matter of Precedency of Place, and that the Proceedings in the Chancery touching this Matter shall be stayed till the Business shall be determined in this House

Ordinance to settle the Militia

Ordered, That the Committee nominated the 8th of Feb to consider of an Ordinance to be drawn up in Pursuance of the Proposition touching the Militia, are also to consider of settling the Militia in such a Way as may most conduce to the Safety and Ease of the Kingdom

Petition from the City

The Eighth Article in the City Representation being read, concerning disposing of Delinquents Estates It is Ordered, That this Article be read when any Ordinance concerning this Business be in Agitation

Peaker, who accused Monday and the Scots Armies, to be secured

Ordered, That Tobias Peaker shall be brought before the Committee To morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock, and then if the Committee find he is not in Commitment by the House of Commons, then the Committee may secure him as they shall think fit

Ordinance to dissolve County Committees

Ordered, That the Conference shall be To morrow, at Eleven of the Clock, concerning the Ordinance touching putting down the Committees

Committee for the Journal

Ordered, That the Lord Hunsdon is added to the Committee for the Journal Book

Confession of Faith

Ordered, That the Confession of Faith shall be taken into Consideration on Tuesday Morning next

Paper from the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland authorizing Wincaham to be One of the Assembly here

A Scotch Paper was read, as follows

"Edinb 20 Jan 1647

"The Comissioners of the Generall Assembly, considering that the Lord Balmerino and the Lord Wariston, Two of the Commissioners appointed by the late As sembly for the Treaty of Uniformity in Religion and Kirk Government betwixt the Kingdomes, are at this Time employed in this Kingdome, as Members of the Parliament now assembled, and having certaine Knowledge and Experience of the Faithfullness and Abilities of Master George Wincaham, of Libbertoun, who is now sente in some Publique Employments from this Kingdome to the Parliament of England Therefore, accordinge to the Power committed to them, they doe hereby give full Power to the said Mr George Wincaham, in the Absence of the said Lord Balmerino, and of any other formerly designed and appointed in his Lordship's Place, or in the Absence of the said Lord Wariston, to joyne with the remanent Comissioners at London, in prosecutinge the Treaty of Uniformity with the Honorable Houses of the Parliament of England, and the Reverend Assembly of Divines there, or with Comittees from them; and to doe all and every Thinge for promoving the said Worke, as freely and fully as any other of the Comissioners, or as if the Assembly had nominate and appointed him to that Effect.

"A. Ker."

Wincaham to be admitted into the Assembly,

Ordered, That this House appoints Mr. George Wincaham to be admitted of the Assembly, as the other Commissioners of Scotland were; and that the Concurrence of the House of Commons be desired herein.

and Bolton,

Ordered, That Mr. Samuell Bolton be added to be One of the Assembly of Divines; and the Concurrence of the House of Commons to be desired herein.

and Horton and Roberts.

Ordered, That the House of Commons be put in Mind of adding Mr. Horton and Mr. Roberts to the Assembly of Divines.

Heads for the Conference concerning the Ordinance for dissolving County Committees.

This Sense shall be delivered To-morrow, at the Conference with the House of Commons:

"That the Lords have many Months since sent an Ordinance to the House of Commons, for the taking away Country Committees, which is expected from both Houses, according to the several Declarations of Parliament, to bring Things into the old Course and Way of Government; and that, in some Places of this Kingdom, Committees are expired, as in Yorkeshire, where no Sequestrations are acted; and in Lyncolneshire no Committee hath acted for some Months; and in other Places, as in Somersetshire, great Disorders have been occasioned by the Continuance of them: Wherefore the Lords have desired this Conference, to desire their Concurrence to an Ordinance of theirs for the taking away Committees, whereunto they hold themselves obliged, as well by the great Sense they have of the Kingdom's Desire herein, as in making good to the World that those extraordinary Ways of Proceeding shall not be continued."

Declaration about the Covenant.

Ordered, That the Lord Robertes be added to the Committee for drawing up a Declaration concerning the Covenant.

Order for 500 l. to Colonel Massey, for his Soldiers.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds be paid, by the Treasurers at Gouldsmiths (fn. *) Hall, out of the Fines and Compositions of Sir John Pettus, Mr. William Culline, and Sir Edward Thomas, or either of them, unto Colonel Edward Massey, for the Service of some Soldiers late of his Brigade: And it is further Ordered, That if the Treasurers at Gouldsmiths Hall, or any Person or Persons whatsoever, shall advance the said Five Hundred Pounds, they shall be allowed Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for a Year, for so long Time as they, or any of them, shall be out of the said Five Hundred Pounds; and the Acquittance of the said Colonel Massey shall be a sufficient Warrant to the Treasurers at Gouldsmiths Hall for the Payment of the said Five Hundred Pounds accordingly."

Footnotes